Pumping apparatus



Aug. 5, 1941 F. H. ECKERT PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 13, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

1941. F. H. ECKERT 2,251,868

PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 13, 1940 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

BY M

Aug. 5, 1941. F. HQECKERT PUMPING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet -----h i-il Filed Jan. 13, 1940 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 5, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUMPING APPARATUS Felix Henry Eckert, San Antonio, Tex.

Application January 13, 1940, Serial No. 313,798

9 Claims.

This invention relates to pumping apparatus for use in oil Wells and the like, one of the objects being to provide apparatus which obviates the use of pump rods; permits the use of a pump cylinder of any desired length whereby a long stroke or a short stroke can be produced and more fluid can be elevated at each stroke than where a rod is used; and which enables the plunger of the working barrel to be removed by a wire line, whereby a considerable saving of time is effected when making repairs.

Another object is to provide a pump in a well which is actuated by fluid pressure, novel means being employed whereby the operating fluid can be controlled to change the upstroke of the plunger in the working barrel.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings th preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a View partly in elevation and partly in section showing the apparatus con-- stituting the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of the controlling cam and the parts cooperating therewith.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through a portion of a well casing equipped with a pump apparatus such as constitutes the present invention.

Figure 4 is a section on line 44, Figure 3, said section being on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on lin 5-5, Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section on line 66, Figure 3.

Figure 7 is an enlarged section on line l1, Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the pump cylinder.

tank 3 which, in turn, is connected by a pipe 4 to a storage tank 5 so that fluid elevated to the receiving tank 3 can flow into the storage tank after it has reached a predetermined level.

At any suitable point in proximity to the well casing I is a pump indicated generally at 6, which can be of the rotary type. This pump has an intake pipe I leading thereto from the bottom portion of the receiving tank 3 while an outflow pipe 8 extends from the pump to the top of the Well casing as shown. The intake and outlet pipes I and 8 are joined by a by-pass 9 which includes a valve casing I0. In this valve casing is located a valve I I which, when seated, acts to prevent the flow of a liquid through the by-pass from pipe 8 to pipe I. During th operation of the pump at which time fluid is forced out through pipe 8, pressure of fiuid within the bypass 9 will be on the upper surface of valve II so as to hold said valve firmly to its seat,

A suitable guide frame i2 is located adjacent to the valve, and mounted to slide therein is a cylinder I3 carrying a weight I4. This cylinder has a stud I5 extending radially therefrom and carrying an anti-friction roller I6 which bears on the surface of a cam I! which includes a radial shoulder I8 at its periphery. This cam is rotated continuously by a speed reduction gearing indicated generally at I9 and which gearing, in turn, receives motion through a belt 26 and pulleys 2I and 22 from the shaft 23 of a motor 24. Another belt and pulley mechanism indicated generally at 25 can be used for transmitting motion from the shaft of the motor to the pump 6. Obviously by changing the size of the pulleys 2I and 22, the speed of the mechanism I9 can be increased or reduced as found desirable in order to obtain a predetermined speed of operation of the mechanism within the well.

The stem 26 of valve I I is slidably mounted within the lower head 21 of cylinder I3 and that end of the stem within the cylinder and above head 21 has an enlargement or collar 28. A spring 29 is mounted on the stem between collar 28 and head 27. Within cylinder I3 and normally spaced from collar 28 and stem 26 is a striking face 30 which can be formed by the lower end of the weight I4 seated in and movable with cylinder I3.

It is to be understood that as the cam I! is rotated it operates gradually to thrust upwardly against roller I6 and at the same time gradually move the weighted cylinder I3 upwardly. Thus the head 2'! will thrust against spring 29 and gradually increase the tension thereof until this tension is sufiicient to overcome the pressure of liquid on the upper surface of valve I I. This will result in the abrupt cracking of the valve and collar 28 will be snapped upwardly against the face as the cylinder l3 and its weight [4 continue to move upwardly under the action of the cam. When the roller [6 is reached by the shoulder l 8 it will drop abruptly under the action of the weight and this movement will be sufficient to cause the valve H to be seated where it will remain seated until such time as the spring 29 is again placed under sufiicient compression to crackthe valve.

Obviously by varying the speed of rotation of the cam the time interval between the cracking of the valve and the closing thereof can be correspondingly varied and therefore the interval during which the by-pass 9 is open also similarly varied.

The mechanism thus far described is used for controlling the operation of the mechanism contained within the well casing I. This includes a tube 3! of any desired length suspended within the "casing and communicating at its upper end with pipe 8. connected a threaded nipple 32 projecting upwardly. from a coupling head 33 which has a central longitudinal bore 34 the upper .portion of which is counterbored to provide an interior seat 35 for the casing 35 of a check-valve of the ball type, the ball being indicated at 31. The passage 38 extending through casing 36 is normally closed by ball 31 and said ball is held in place by an apertured hood 39 having an integral upwardly extending stem 40, the upper end of which is tapered and shouldered as shown at 4|. As the stem 49 is exposed through the tube 3|, it can be reached readily by a wire line so as to be engaged and lifted out of place when repairs are found necessary. a

The coupling head 33 has a downwardly extending threaded nipple 42 surrounded by a shoulder 43 and opening downwardly through this shoulder from points within the 'upper portion of bore 34 are downwardly diverging passages 4'4.

Radially disposed openings 45 are extended through the head 33 at points below valve casing 36 and the outer ends of these openings communicate with the lower ends of grooves '46 formed in the outer surface of the coupling head 33 and extending to'the upper end of said head. These grooves and passages or openings are shown in Figure 3. A suitable packing indicated generally at 47 can be secured within thecasing 'I and around the coupling head 33 so that the grooves 4'5 thus form outlet passages in communication with the openings 45.

Secured to and depending from the nipple 42 is a working cylinder 48 of any desired length the lower end of which engages a threaded nipple 49 extending upwardly from a coupling '59. This nipple is surrounded by an annular shoulder 5| and extending through the coupling is a bore 52.

As shown particularly in Figures '7 and 10 an annular series of radial ports 53 is provided in nipple 49 adajacent to shoulder 5|, these ports all'communicating with the bore '52.

Within the working cylinder 48 is mounted .a working plunger 54 in the .form of a sleeve the upper end of which contains a removable ring 55 constituting a thrust bearing for one end of a coiled spring 55 which is seated within the plunger. The other end of this spring bears To the lower end of this tube is head 58 supported beyond the lower end of the sleeve 54 and provided with suitable packing 59 so as to provide a tight working fit against the inner surface of the cylinder 48. This head 53 is mounted for limited sliding movement on guide pins 59 which extend from the lower end of sleeve 54, An annular series of ports BI is formed in the head 58 and extends entirely through the head, the upper ends of these ports being so located as to be closed by the lower end of sleeve 54 when the head is thrust upwardly against the sleeve. Normally, however, the head is pressed downwardly by spring 55.

As has been shown particularly in Figure 6, the upper end of the nipple 49 is formed with radial grooves 62 leading from the central opening or bore 52 to the periphery of the nipple. These grooves afford means whereby liquid rising within bore 52 can be distributed radially under the head 58 so as to exert an upward pressure thereagainst.

The working cylinder 48 is surrounded by a tubular jacket 53 spaced from cylinder 48. This jacket is seated at its ends on the couplings 33 and 59, there being annular grooves -64 in said couplings for the reception of the respective ends of the jacket. Thus there is provided an annular passage between the cylinder and the jacket which communicates at its upper end with the diverging passages '44 and at its lower end with the radial passages 53.

, The coupling '50 is joined to the upper end of a pump cylinder 65 and, if desired, theupper portion of this cylinder can be centered and sealed within the casing I by a suitable packing 66. Pump cylinder 65 can be of any length desired and has an inlet 61 at its lower end normally closed by a check-valve 68 adapted to operi upwardly. Spaced projections '69 can be arranged about and below "the opening 61 to prevent the choking of the inlet 61 should the cylinder '65 be extended to the bottomof the well.

A pump piston 10 is mounted for reciprocation with-in the cylinder 65 and has a bore H extending therethrough, the lower end of this bore being normally closed by a check-valve 42. The piston is joined to the lower end of a "tubular stem 13 extending upwardly within cylinder 65 and adapted to reciprocate therein, the upper end of this stem, in turn, being joined to a tubular extension 14 which extends loosely through plunger '54 and its head '58, and is provided with an enlargement 15 at its upper end adapted normally to rest -on the ring 55 as shown for example in Figure 10. The open upper end of the extension 15 has an apertured cap '16 joined thereto and this cap is provided with an upwardly projecting stem 11 having a tapered shouldered head 18. This stem "is so located that following the removal of the check-valve 36-31, it is possible to reach the stem 17 with a wire line for the purpose of pulling said stern and the extension 15 and rod 13 upwardly from the we'll for the purpose of making repairs and without disturbing the plunger 54 and its head 58.

Normally the mechanism in the well is located as shown in Figures 9 and 10. At that time the piston of the pump is in its lowermost position within cylinder 55 and the plunger 54 and its head 58 are also in their lowermost position within the working cylinder '48. Valve H is also closed. 1

The actuation of pump 5 sets up 'a flow of fluid I which is withdrawn from the receiving tank 3 "against the tubular extension 5-! of a p un .7'5 t'hrtiugh pipe I and :discharged through pipe 8 into tube 3!. This liquid is forced downwardly through passages 44 and into the space surrounded by jacket 63 from which it flows through ports 53 upwardly about extension 14 and within the radial grooves 62 into position under and 1 around the plunger 54. The upward pressure against this plunger and head will be suiiicient to shift them upwardly, the ports 6| at this time being closed by the lower end of sleeve 54 against which head 58 is thrust. As fluid continues to be forced downwardly along the path stated, the plunger formed by sleeve 54 and head 58 will be thrust upwardly within the working cylinder 43 and pull through extension 14 and stem 13 upon the piston with the result that any liquid contained within the piston 10, its stem 13 and extension 74 as well as any liquid in the path of the ascending plunger 54 and its head 58 will be free to escape upwardly through the radial openings 45 to the grooves or passages 48 and thence into the space surrounding tube 3| from which it will overflow through pipe 2 to the receiving tank 3 and thence to the storage tank 5. At the time the pump piston 10 reaches the predetermined upper limit of its stroke, the cam H has revolved to such a point as to place spring 29 under sufficient compression to crack valve ll. Thus pressure within the pipe 8 is relieved because the pumped fluid is free to return by way of the opened by-pass 9 and as soon as this pressure is relieved from pipe 8 and the parts communicating therewith, the weighted plunger 5458 is relieved of the lifting force of the fluid being applied to the bottom of head 58 and, consequently, said plunger and head as well as the pump piston and its stem and extension will all drop by gravity to their initial positions. During this dropping action valve 12 opens to admit a new supply of liquid into the pump stem and head 58 is shifted away from sleeve 54 so that the ports 6| are opened and the descent of the plunger will not meet with any serious retardation. By the time the plunger and the pump piston reach their lowermost positions by gravitation, the shoulder I8 is brought into position to release the lifted roller l6 and consequently the weight l4 will drop and the striking face 30 thereof will start the valve H to its closed position, spring 29 in the meantime having been relieved from compression so as to permit the receding of the valve. Thus the by-pass will be closed and pressure will again be built up within the apparatus beneath the head 58 so as to produce another lifting stroke of the pump whereupon the cycle of operations already described will be repeated. The valve 31 is provided to allow upward flow of fluid past it while the parts 36 to 4| are being lowered in position. Otherwise fluid entering from above through the ports 45 would greatly retard and possibly prevent proper seating of these parts all of which fit very closely.

What is claimed is:

1. In well pumping apparatus a Working cylinder having an inlet port at its lower end and an outlet port at its upper end, said ports being out of communication, a plunger mounted for gravitation within the cylinder and including a normally open valve positioned to close under upward pressure, a valved pump cylinder opening into the bottom of the working cylinder, a valved tubular piston and stem mounted for gravitation within the pump cylinder and relative to the plunger, cooperating means on the plunger and stem for lifting the stem when the plunger is raised, a control pump having an inlet, anoutlet and a by-pass, a normally closed valve in the by-pass, means for directing liquid from said outlet of the control pump to the inlet port and to close the plunger valve, lift the plunger, pump piston and stem, and elevate through the outlet port liquid in the path of the plunger and the piston, and means Operating in timed relation with the control pump for opening the by-pass valve when the plunger and piston reach the upper end of their stroke, thereby to relieve the plunger from the lifting force of the fluid from the control pump and release the plunger and piston for gravitation to their normal positions.

2. In well pumping apparatus a working cylinder having an inlet leading to the bottom thereof and a top outlet, a normally closed valve removably seated between the inlet and the outlet and accessible for removal through the outlet, a valved plunger mounted for gravitation in the cylinder and for elevation by fluid admitted through the inlet, a valved pump cylinder below and opening into the working cylinder, a valved piston in the pump cylinder, a tubular piston stem opening through the piston and plunger and movable relative to the plunger, cooperating means on the stem and plunger for lifting the stem and piston with the plunger, and means out of communication with the outlet for successively supplying fluid under pressure to the inlet to lift the plunger, and for relieving the pressure on the fluid thereby to release the plunger and piston for gravitation to their normal positions.

3. In well pumping apparatus a working cylinder having an inlet leading to the bottom thereof and a top outlet, a normally closed valve removably seated between the inlet and the outlet, a valved plunger mounted for gravitation in the cylinder and for elevation by fluid admitted through the inlet, a valved pump cylinder below and opening into the working cylinder, a valved piston in the pump cylinder, a tubular piston stem opening through the piston and plunger and movable relative to the plunger, cooperating means on the stem and plunger for lifting the stem and piston with the plunger, and means out of communication with the outlet for successively supplying fluid under pressure to the inlet to lift the plunger, and for relieving the pressure on the fluid thereby to release the plunger and piston for gravitation to their normal positions, said means including a continuously operating control pump having an inlet, an outlet and a normally closed by-pass, means for conducting fluid from the outlet of the control pump to the inlet of the working cylinder, means for conducting fluid from the outlet of the working cylinder to the inlet of the control pump, and means for intermittently opening the by-pass.

4. In well pumping apparatus a working cylinder having an inlet leading to the bottom thereof and a top outlet, a normally closed valve removably seated between the inlet and the outlet, a valved plunger mounted for gravitation in the cylinder and for elevation by fluid admitted through the inlet, a valved pump cylinder below and opening into the working cylinder, a valved piston in the pump cylinder, a'tubular piston stem opening through the piston and plunger and movable relative to the plunger, cooperating means on the stem and plunger for lifting the stem and piston with the plunger, and means out of communication with the outlet for successively supplying fluid under pressure to the inlet to lift the plunger, and for relieving the pressure on the fluid thereby to release the plunger and piston for gravitation to their normal positions, said means including a continuously operating control pump having an inlet, an outlet and a normally closed by-pass, means for conducting fluidfrom the outlet of the control pump to the inlet of the working cylinder, means for conducting fluid from the outlet of the working cylinder to the inlet of the control pump, a continuously rotating cam, a weight mounted for gradual elevation and abrupt release by the cam, a valve normally closing the by-pass, a resilient connection between the valve and weight, said weight, when elevated to a predetermined position by the cam, constituting means for transmitting motion therefrom through the spring to the valve to open the valve, the said weight, when released by the cam, constituting means for returning the valve to closed position.

5. In well pumping apparatus a working cylinder having an inlet leading to the bottom thereof and a top outlet, a normally closed valve removably seated between the inlet and the outlet, a valved plunger mounted for gravitation in the cylinder and for elevation by fluid admitted through the inlet, a valved pump cylinder below and opening into the working cylinder, a valved piston in the pump cylinder, a tubular piston stem opening through the piston and plunger and movable relative to the plunger, cooperating means on the stem and plunger for lifting the stem and piston with the plunger, and means out of communication with the outlet for successively supplying fluid under pressure to the inlet to lift the plunger, and for relieving the pressure on the fluid thereby to release the plunger and piston for gravitation to their normal positions, said means including a continuously operating control pump having an inlet, an outlet and a normally closed by-pass, means for conducting fluid from the outlet of the control pump to the inlet of the working cylinder, means for conducting fluid from the outlet of the working cylinder to the inlet of the control pump, a valve closing the by-pass, a cam, means for rotating the cam, and means operated by the cam for efiecting a delayed opening of the valve and returning the valve to closed position.

6. In well pumping apparatus a working cylinder, a pump cylinder opening upwardly thereinto, a tube for supporting and supplying fluid under pressure to the upper end of the working cylinder, means for directing fluid from said tube and around the cylinder into the lower end of the cylinder, a check-valve removably seated in line with and removable through said tube, there being a fluid outlet in the upper portion of the working cylinder and maintained by said valve out of communication with said fluidconducting means, a plunger mounted for reciprocation in the working cylinder and including a spring restrained head having a working contact with the cylinder, there being normally open ports through the head, said head being shiftable upwardly to close the ports, a pump piston within the pump cylinder having a valved inlet, a tubular stem opening through said piston and through the plunger and slidable relative to the plunger, cooperating means on said stem and plunger for elevating the stem with the plunger, and means on the stem and in line with the tube for access through said tube when the removable valve is restored, thereby to withdraw the stem and piston through the plunger and from the working cylinder. 7. In well pumping apparatus the combination with a working cylinder, a pump cylinder depending therefrom, a plunger mounted for reciprocation in the cylinder, a valved pump piston in the pump cylinder, and a tubular stem opening through the pump piston and the plunger and supported by and movable with theplunger, of means for supplying fluid under pressure intermittently to the bottom of the plunger thereby to successively raise the plunger and stem and release said plunger and stem for gravitation to their normal positions, said means including a head constituting a part of the plunger and having ports therethrough positioned to be closed when the head is thrust in one direction to raise the plunger, and means for shifting the head to open the ports during the gravitation of the plunger.

8. In a fluid-operated pumping apparatus for wells, a working cylinder, a coupling seated in the lower end thereof and having a bore therethrough and radial ports opening from the bore and outwardly past the cylinder, a coupling head seated in the upper end of said cylinder and having a bore opening downwardly therethrough, a jacket spaced from the cylinder and mounted at its ends on said coupling and head, there being passages opening downwardly within the wall of the coupling head into the upper portion of the jacket and outlet openings extending through the wall of the coupling head, a valve removably seated in the bore in the coupling head between the outlet openings and the upper ends of said passages, said valve being in position to close under downward pressure of fluid, thereby to close communication between said passages and the outlet openings, a pump piston stem opening into and mounted for reciprocation within the coupling and the working cylinder, said stem being tubular, means on said stem and accessible through the coupling head when the valve is removed, for engagement with a stem-withdrawing device, a sleeve mounted for gravitation within the working cylinder and upon the stem, a spring-pressed head movable with and independently of the sleeve and having a working contact with the cylinder, there being a port extending through the head and positioned to be closed by the sleeve when the head is moved upwardly out of normal position during the movement of the head and sleeve in one direction.

9. In pumping apparatus of the class described a working cylinder having an inlet and an outlet, a valve removably mounted in position to close communication between the inlet and the outlet, -a tube for delivering fluid under pressure to the inlet, said valve being positioned for withdrawal through the tube, a tubular pump stem projecting into and mounted for reciprocation Within the working cylinder, means on the upper end of said stem and accessible through the tube when the valve is withdrawn for withdrawing said stem through the tube, and means within the working cylinder and operated by fluid under pressure admitted thereto through the inlet for successively elevating thestem and releasing said stem for gravitation to its :normal position.

FELIX ECKERT. 

